When families around Katong ask me which helper they should get, I always pause before I answer.
Because there is no ‘one answer fits all’. Every household is different. Even among siblings, I have seen the requirements differ. Your home, your routine, your parents, your children, they are yours alone. The helper who is right for your neighbour may be the wrong one for you.
So instead of telling you who is ‘best’, let me share what actually matters when you hire in 2026. What it costs. How to find the right fit. And a few things I have learned after 11 years and more than 4,000 placements.
What it actually costs in 2026
Forget where you live for a moment. A helper’s salary depends far more on her experience and how well she fits your home.
As a rough guide this year, monthly salaries start from about:
- S$520 onwards for a new Myanmar helper
- S$600 onwards for an Indonesian helper
- S$650 to S$850 for an experienced Filipina
Then there is the government levy, and this is where many families breathe easier. It is S$300 a month at the standard rate, but only S$60 if your household qualifies for the concession, which means a child under 16, a family member aged 67 or older, or someone with a disability at home. About 7 in 10 families pay the lower rate.
Beyond salary and the levy, the extras such as food, insurance and medical add only a little on top. Most families tell me the monthly commitment turns out to be far more manageable than they first feared.
A word of honesty: do not choose on salary alone. The cheaper helper who leaves in two months will cost you far more, in money and in peace of mind, than the right one who stays for years.
Choosing the right helper for your home
The best helper for your neighbour may be the wrong one for you, so start from what your own household actually needs.
If you need childcare
Look for patience, energy and clear communication, especially with young children or busy school routines.
If you need eldercare
Look for calm, reliability and real caregiving experience. This is one of the most common requests I hear from East Coast families now, and it is rising every year.
If you mainly need the home run well
Look for someone organised and independent who can manage with light supervision.
We match on fit, not on ranking. I will never tell you one nationality is simply better than another. I will tell you which helper suits your home, your routine and your budget, and why.
Transfer helper, or new from overseas?
A transfer helper is already here in Singapore, looking for a new employer. She usually starts faster and already understands how a local home runs, so the settling-in is shorter.
A new helper from overseas lets you start with a clean slate and shape habits from day one.
Many Katong families choose a transfer for speed, but the honest answer depends on your timeline. I will lay out both and let you decide.
How the hiring actually works
The rules every employer should know
Getting these right protects you, and keeps your helper happy:
- She is entitled to one rest day a week.
- At least one rest day a month cannot be compensated away. It must be taken.
- If she agrees to work on a rest day, you pay at least a day’s salary, and put it in writing.
- A missed rest day can be deferred, but only by up to a month.
The one most people get wrong: your helper can only work for you, at the address registered with MOM. Lending her to a relative or a neighbour, even once, is illegal, and the penalties are steep.
Agree the rest day in writing from the start. A rested, respected helper stays longer and works better. If you are unsure about any rule, ask us before you assume.
Why Katong families choose us
We have looked after Singapore families for 11 years, with more than 4,000 placements and over 300 helper biodatas available at any time. We run our own training centre, we write a 12-month replacement into the contract, and our Katong branch is right here in Katong Shopping Centre, with a second branch in Bukit Timah.
We were recently featured on CNA and 8world, in June 2026.
But honestly, what I would rather give you is a straight answer, not a sales pitch.
Come and see us in Katong
Unistarr Employment, Katong branch
865 Mountbatten Road, #01-84, Katong Shopping Centre, Singapore 437844
Phone: +65 9647 4781
Mon-Fri 11am-7pm · Sat-Sun 11am-5pm
Ready to start?
Visit unistarr.com.sg/helpers to tell us what you need, or call our Katong branch on +65 9647 4781 (Bukit Timah: +65 9723 4920).
We will match you honestly. On fit, not on ranking.
Questions Katong families often ask
Where exactly is your Katong branch?
Katong Shopping Centre, 865 Mountbatten Road, #01-84, Singapore 437844. We are open Mon-Fri 11am-7pm and Sat-Sun 11am-5pm.
What does it cost to hire in 2026?
Salaries start from about S$520 onwards (new Myanmar), S$600 onwards (Indonesian) and S$650 to S$850 (experienced Filipina). On top of that is the government levy, which is often just S$60 with the concession rather than the full S$300. Food, insurance and medical add only a little more.
Can you help me find a transfer helper quickly?
Yes. Transfer helpers are already in Singapore and can usually start sooner. I will show you both transfer and new-hire options honestly, so you can choose on timeline and fit.
Do you serve Marine Parade and Joo Chiat?
Yes. Our Katong branch looks after families across Katong, Marine Parade, Joo Chiat, Tanjong Katong, Telok Kurau and the wider East Coast.
This is general guidance for 2026, not formal advice. Salary figures are typical ranges and vary by experience and individual case. For the latest official rules, please refer to the Ministry of Manpower.
